15 Thursday Sep 2022
Posted in Wine reviews
I did a tasting at a wine bar recently and this was the opener- a classic Sauvignon Blanc from NZ. Pale lemon colored with heady aromas of cut grass, gooseberry, cat pee (yes, it’s a thing), tangerine, lemon rind, melon and Passion fruit. High acidity and a medium body were to be expected and this varietally true wine delivered! It runs $13 and gets 90 points from me making it a 5 star effort to drink soon. Salut….
14 Wednesday Sep 2022
Posted in Wine reviews
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$13, 4 stars, 89 points, appassimento, Italy, malvasia, negroamara, puglia
Medium ruby colored this IGT level wine comes in at 14.5% ABV which is contrary to the fast moving legs on the glass walls. I get aromas (muted btw) of dark cherry, lavender, iron, crushed rock, blackberry and violets. The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins. Ripe black cherry, blackberry coulis, purple florals and some stoney minerality mix with a blackened cedar slate component. The body is full and the wine finishes medium (+) in length with a touch of heat which is unusual for me to sense. I like this rather silky brute, it presents itself with structure and fruit alongside some oak influence and unabashedly does so for $13. It gets 89 points from me and 4 stars. Drink till 2028 with hearty dishes. A blend of Malvasia and Negroamara that has been air-dried on mats and then pressed after the grapes have raisined. Salut….
26 Friday Aug 2022
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$13, 4 stars, 87 points, california, chardonnay, Naked Wines
Medium to deep lemon colored this Chardonnay has medium intensity aromas of citrus, pineapple, yellow apple, geranium and cherry leaf. The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium (+) body. Flavors of lemon, grapefruit, pomelo and pineapple prevail and luckily for me- no Diacetyl from MLF. I was not in the mood for a big, buttery, over-oaked Chard. This is going to go beautifully with our grilled Chermoula spiced Shrimp and Spanish rice. 87 points from me for this $13 wine makes it a 4 star effort. Drink now. Salut….
10 Sunday Jul 2022
Posted in Wine reviews
Deep purple- gamy on the nose with licorice, garigue, raspberry and black fruit. Charred wood notes and stewed blackberry finish it off. On the palate this Grenache/Syrah blend is dry with somewhat coarse tannins, medium (-) acidity and a medium body. I get definitive game and earthy notes with dark red fruit and oak influence from the charred wood. Licorice is quite present. The tannins smooth out towards the back end where the finish is medium in length and includes a Lapsang Souchong tea component. A very serviceable wine that gets 88 points from me to drink till 2026. At $13 it’s a relative bargain that gets 4 stars. Salut….
03 Sunday Apr 2022
Posted in Wine reviews
Medium gold in the glass, this dessert style wine from Greece has pronounced aromas of honey, orange marmalade, blossom, a hint of lychee, some rose water and soursop. On the palate it is medium sweet with medium acidity, a full body and medium (-) intensity flavors. The mouthfeel is really pleasant, not cloying- more like a refreshing sticky. The finish is medium length and accentuates the honey component with orange notes. This wine retails for $13. That’s a steal IMO. 88 points from me makes it a 4 star effort to have laying around in case you need something sweet after dinner. Stock up. Salut….
06 Sunday Mar 2022
Posted in Wine reviews
I’m cooking two roasts tonight- a Moroccan herbed leg of Lamb and a seasoned Coulotte with riced brocolli and a North African inspired vegetal medley on a bed of Barley and Arugula. I need a bold, tannic wine for this and so I delved into the nether regions of Georgia for this Saperavi.
Opaque purple with some thin legs showing off the 13% ABV. The nose has pronounced aromas of grape, smoky oak, vanilla, dark cherry and spice box. Cloves and sweet blackcurrant round it out. I am intrigued by the raw grape scent- it’s not often you come across this basic component. The palate is exactly what I was hoping for. Dry, medium (+) tannins with good acidity. Plenty of primary fruit flavors and oak hints are evident on this medium (-) bodied wine that has a shortish finish. The freshness of the grape flavor is very unique. I like it. The charred oak in this one is quite apparent. Whilst not overly complex, it is a nicely balanced wine that will pair well with my multitude of flavors. I would drink this wine by 2024 with hearty meat dishes. 88 points and 3 stars for this $13 effort. Salut….
27 Monday Dec 2021
Posted in Wine reviews
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$13, 5 stars, 89 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Lodi, Naked Wines
It’s the night after all the Christmas guests (family) have left and Moxie and I are recovering. A Lodi Cab Sav to pair with leftover Prime Rib seems in order. This one is nearly opaque and bright ruby in the glass. The nose is an interesting mix of pomegranate, plum, blackberry and black currant. Sweet cassis, a touch of oak and some pie crust hit me after a good swirl. The palate is tannic right off the bat with grippy sensations on my gums and teeth. The dark fruit flavors are pronounced with some oak and pie nuances in there as well. Medium bodied it has a shortish finish but I am having a hard time with the tannins which are overtaking any semblance of acidity on the back end. Slightly unbalanced structurally I think this will pass as the tannins integrate and allow the fruit and acidity to all play together on a more even keel. Aerate this wine or cellar it for a while and you will be rewarded. I would drink it from 2023 till 2028 with all plethora of grilled meats and hearty stews. 89 points for this $13 wine makes it a 5 star effort. Salut….
30 Tuesday Nov 2021
Posted in Wine reviews
I would say this wine is of medium opacity and has purple to ruby color. I can smell it a few feet away but as I nose in I get red cherry, leather, dried herbs, smoke and pomegranate. The palate is sour, as expected from this varietal. Juicy acidity and medium tannins give way to flavors of cherry, leather, dusty herbs and oak influences from smoke. This wine is still primal, the red fruit is very prominent whilst the tertiary and secondary flavors and aromas are muted. The sourness is evident till the back end yet the tannins recede somewhat from the opening push. The wine is medium bodied and has a short finish. I think it needs to flesh out a little, it will improve with age. I would eventually pair this wine with Schnitzel, stuffed green peppers or any pasta with red sauce. 89 points from me for this $13 wine make it a 4 star effort. Drink from 2023-2028. Salut….
30 Tuesday Nov 2021
Posted in Wine reviews
Moxie and I went to a pre-theater dinner in downtown Philly. The food was really good but the wine list was quite shabby, they offered 5 reds which retail in the stores for $12-18 per bottle and none got a rating over 86. I was forced to choose one and settled on this Argentinian Malbec. Here is my brief review:
Opaque, nose of crushed stone, plum, blackberry. Soft mouthfeel with lithe tannins, gentle acidity and medium intensity flavors. Medium bodied with a medium length finish. 86 points. Drink now. $13 makes it a 3 star effort. It was okay, just not great. Salut….
11 Thursday Nov 2021
Posted in Wine reviews
This bottle was a gift, for delivering a rescue dog to her new home in upstate New York. We had fostered Victoria for a month and when it was time for her to meet new friends- it was off to the horse farm with her. The new family were super happy to meet her and gave me two bottles of the local reds. This one is a blend of 49% Merlot, 40% Cab Franc and 11% Syrah.
Semi opaque, bright ruby. The nose is medium intense and gives me red cherry, red currants, raspberry, red plum and spice box- like baking spices. The palate is dry, medium bodied and has juicy acidity and mid grade tannins. The fruit flavors are of medium intensity and I get the red notes as well as the spice. There is very little oak showing but I do get a strange sensation, almost like effervescence yet there are no bubbles. It’s unique, something new to me. As I drink more of it there is a definitive red cherry candy component and the glass wafts a touch of straw if swirled a lot. The tannins I mentioned are very lithe yet hang on for a long time, far longer than the fruit which is pretty decent in length. Overall, it’s a decent drop that gets 87 points from me. It runs $13 and gets 3 stars from me. Drink now with lighter fare, perhaps a pasta dish with veggies. Salut….
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